Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 25:2

"And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they besought him," — Acts 25:2 (ASV)

The high priest at Jerusalem when Festus took office was Ishmael, appointed by Herod Agrippa II to succeed Ananias during the final days of Felix’s governorship. Ananias, however, continued to exercise a dominant role in Jerusalem affairs right up to his death in 66 at the hands of Jewish nationalists. This is probably why Luke speaks of “the chief priests” and not just the high priest as appearing with the elders before Festus when he came to Jerusalem (cf. 4:23; 9:14; 22:30; 23:14; 25:15).